Richard Holbrooke dies: Veteran U.S. diplomat brokered Dayton peace accords  —  Longtime U.S. diplomat Richard C. Holbrooke, whose relentless prodding and deft maneuvering yielded the 1995 Dayton peace accords that ended the war in Bosnia - a success he hoped to repeat as President Obama's chief envoy …

Health reform will survive its legal fight  —  In March, New Hampshire preschool teacher Gail O'Brien, who was unable to obtain health insurance through her employer, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lymphoma.  Her subsequent applications for health insurance were rejected because of her condition.

No Labels and Other Ripped Off Designs  —  Brooklyn-based artist Thomas Porostocky's friends and fans have been tipping off NY media that his art has been used without permission by the bi-partisan political group No Labels.  —  Porostocky designed star-spangled giraffes …

Why I'm Posting Bail Money for Julian Assange  —  Yesterday, in the Westminster Magistrates Court in London, the lawyers for WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange presented to the judge a document from me stating that I have put up $20,000 of my own money to help bail Mr. Assange out of jail.

Tax-cut package clears procedural hurdle in Senate  —  Republicans and Democrats joined forces in the Senate on Monday to deliver the most significant bipartisan vote since President Obama took office, advancing a plan to extend tax cuts for virtually every American and to boost the economic recovery.

Atheist Ads on Buses Rattle Fort Worth  —  FORT WORTH — Stand on a corner in this city and you might get a case of theological whiplash.  —  A public bus rolls by with an atheist message on its side: “Millions of people are good without God.”  Seconds later, a van follows bearing a riposte: “I still love you.

‘No Labels’ rally: Bipartisan with Democratic tinge  —  NEW YORK-The people who attended the “No Labels” conference here on the campus of Columbia University really, really want the government to get things done.  “So much partisanship, and not enough getting things done,” said Antonio Villaraigosa …

The unpredictable Michael Steele  —  1. Michael Steele's announcement Monday that he will seek a second term as chairman of the Republican National Committee stunned the political world and left strategists scrambling to assess the impact he could have on the contest.

Hoyer expected to file 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal bill Tuesday  —  House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) are expected to introduce standalone “don't ask, don't tell” repeal legislation on Tuesday, three sources actively involved in repeal discussions told POLITICO Monday.

Linda McMahon Plans Meeting With NRSC  —  In case there was any doubt, Linda McMahon's political career may not be over.  —  The former wrestling executive turned Connecticut GOP Senate candidate has scheduled a personal meeting with National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) on Capitol Hill.

Governor Mark Sanford talks about future  —  Governor Mark Sanford will be out of job next month.  He's served as South Carolina's head of state since 2003.  —  NewsChannel 15's Tim McGinnis interviewed Sanford on Monday.  Sanford spoke about his tenure, including the effect the admission …

The Nixon tapes remind us what a vile creature Henry Kissinger is.  —  Over the last few weeks, this modest little column of mine has been acquiring an almost eerie prescience and potency.  I called for the death sentence on Tariq Aziz to be commuted, and it was only a matter of days …